Adam Starr

Adam has been a working guitarist for over 15 years. During this period, he has focused primarily on original projects, but also worked as a sideman and Music Director.

As founding member and leader of the original ensemble Frock, he has performed in jazz clubs and at festivals throughout Australia, in Europe and Asia, including performances at the Montreux Jazz Festival and the inaugural Singapore Jazz Festival.

Adam toured throughout Israel with his Australian Jewish Music Ensemble, and he has also toured Germany and the UK with his original, Europe-based project, Ashes Quartet.

Adam played guitar and banjo in Victoria State Theatre Productions of Bye Bye Birdie, Hello Dolly and Anything Goes.

Education

PhD (Composition), University of Melbourne, 2011.

Master of Music (Composition), University of Melbourne, 2006.

Master of Music (Composition for the Screen), Royal College of Music, London, 2005.

Bachelor of Music (Performance), Victorian College of the Arts, 1995.

Teaching Experience

Prior to his appointment at NMIT in 2011, Adam was a part-time lecturer, tutor and post-graduate supervisor at the University of Melbourne (2007-2011) and Victoria University (2010).

He has produced and facilitated workshops on improvisation and ensemble playing in the UK, Singapore, Australia, and was a featured composer at the inaugural Melbourne Guitar Festival (2009). Adam has also presented his work in seminars at the Tel Aviv University (Israel), Bar Ilan University (Israel), University of Warwick (UK) and the University of Melbourne.

Recording Experience

Adam has played guitar on many recordings for film, TV and commercial release. His current projects are Frock, which has released seven CDs (three of those recordings were commissioned by the ABC) and the Australian Jewish Music Ensemble (debut CD Pazit, released through Jazz Head).

Adam’s original compositions appear on over 20 CDs.

Composition Experience

Adam has written concert music for a range of forces, from orchestra and big band to solo instruments. Recent compositions include:

"Jerusalem Mashup" – the final song in the suite Jerusalem: Hashana Sh’Hayta, recently premiered in the UK (December, 2012). One song from this suite was recorded for commercial release by Grammy award-winning ensemble "Orchestra of Our Time" (2011). The complete version was recorded by ANAM string quartet (2011) and one song performed by Silo String Quartet (2010). An online release of the completed suite is scheduled for 2013.

"Time Mite Emit" – a Concerto for Jazz Guitar and Big Band, written for US guitar legend Jon Damien, performed in the Yarra Edge Theatre in 2012.

The Doyen, Mango Face and Doing the Salzburger Knockerl: Performed by Frock at Bennetts Lane, 2012

Adam has had works performed and recorded by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Victoria, the Australian String Quartet, the Freshwater Trio, MHS Orchestra (plus turntablist and massed choir of 150 voices), Melbourne University Big Band and the Royal College of Music Big Band. His works have been performed in Singapore, Austria, Canada, USA, UK, Italy, Switzerland, Germany and Israel.

Adam received Associate Representation through the Australian Music Centre in 2011 and has taken part in selective national composition forums. He has been the recipient of several grants, scholarships and awards.

Adam has composed music for film and television, including 5 feature film scores, many short films and music for theatre and jingles.